Hox and TALE Gene Function in Evolution, Development, and Disease

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 May 2023) | Viewed by 4081

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/d, 41125 Modena, Italy
Interests: HOX genes; TALE-homeobox genes; transcriptional regulation; cancer molecular biology; developmental molecular biology; post-transcriptional regulation; miRNAs; lncRNAs
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The family of evolutionarily highly conserved Hox genes, since their discovery almost four decades ago, has attracted, and continues to attract, much interest. This is not only because of the crucial role played by this unique gene family in the development of the main body axis of essentially all studied animal species, but also because of its involvement in a number of human disorders, ranging from genetic diseases to cancer.

In this upcoming Special Issue of Genes, we aim to cover the most recent progress in the study of the function Hox genes and of their close partners, the TALE homeobox genes. Thus, contributions describing advances in our understanding of the regulation of Hox and/or TALE gene expression, of the transcriptional regulation by Hox and/or TALE proteins, of post-transcriptional mechanisms affecting Hox and/or TALE gene function that involve non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs), and of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms controlling Hox and/or TALE expression, from an evo–devo perspective and/or in developmental or disease processes, are all very welcome.

Contributions can be in the form of research articles, reviews, and the description of new methodologies, including mathematical models, applicable to the study of Hox and/or TALE gene function.

Dr. Vincenzo Zappavigna
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • HOX genes 
  • TALE homeodomain genes 
  • developmental biology 
  • transcriptional regulation 
  • post-transctiptional regulation 
  • epigenetic regulatory mechanisms 
  • evo–devo 
  • cancer biology

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

12 pages, 2750 KiB  
Review
The Role of IRX Homeobox Genes in Hematopoietic Progenitors and Leukemia
by Stefan Nagel
Genes 2023, 14(2), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14020297 - 23 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3544
Abstract
IRX genes are members of the TALE homeobox gene class and encode six related transcription factors (IRX1–IRX6) controlling development and cell differentiation of several tissues in humans. Classification of TALE homeobox gene expression patterns for the hematopoietic compartment, termed TALE-code, has revealed exclusive [...] Read more.
IRX genes are members of the TALE homeobox gene class and encode six related transcription factors (IRX1–IRX6) controlling development and cell differentiation of several tissues in humans. Classification of TALE homeobox gene expression patterns for the hematopoietic compartment, termed TALE-code, has revealed exclusive IRX1 activity in pro-B-cells and megakaryocyte erythroid progenitors (MEPs), highlighting its specific contribution to developmental processes at these early stages of hematopoietic lineage differentiation. Moreover, aberrant expression of IRX homeobox genes IRX1, IRX2, IRX3 and IRX5 has been detected in hematopoietic malignancies, including B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), T-cell ALL, and some subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Expression analyses of patient samples and experimental studies using cell lines and mouse models have revealed oncogenic functions in cell differentiation arrest and upstream and downstream genes, thus, revealing normal and aberrant regulatory networks. These studies have shown how IRX genes play key roles in the development of both normal blood and immune cells, and hematopoietic malignancies. Understanding their biology serves to illuminate developmental gene regulation in the hematopoietic compartment, and may improve diagnostic classification of leukemias in the clinic and reveal new therapeutic targets and strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hox and TALE Gene Function in Evolution, Development, and Disease)
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